Nasa Clipper instruments - Are they any good?

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olavs

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My old Stowe instruments need replacement and I'm looking at the Nasa Clipper series(wind, log and depth). They will be mounted outside but sheltered under the sprayhood.

Does anyone have any experience with these particular instruments?

Thanks
Olav Saastad - Norway
 
Had NASA Target instruments on the last boat. They were cheap, slow and unreliable. Fitted NASA Clipper instruments on the new boat about two years ago. They are nearly as cheap, much more responsive, and (so far) very reliable. The only difference I can see between them and some of the more expensive makes is that you can't interface them. I am very pleased with them, and would recommend them.
 
I agree, have had Clipper log, depth and wind on my boat for the last 18 months and they ahve been reliable over that period, are easy to read and night illumination can be adjusted to usable levels
 
It took me months to get the speed log to be anywhere near accurate, and then the "paddle wheel" keeps collecting barnacles etc. so you need it mounted somewhere close to the water line and in an easily accesible place otherwise it soon stops working all together.

The depth sounder is more reliable/accurate but have resorted to sounding with a lead line when spending any length of time in shallow water.

IF FITTING THE SPEED LOG MAKE SURE THE THRO HULL FITTING IS ALSO PROPERLY GLASSED ONTO THE INSIDE OF THE HULL. I DON'T THINK OURS WAS, IT FAILED AND WE SOON HAD OVER A METRE OF WATER THROUGHOUT THE BOAT. NASA CHARGE £8 FOR A NEW SKIN FITTING.

Phil
 
We have had Clipper LOg and depth for about 3 years, So far very pleased . They are mounted outside in the open cockpit.The numbers are large enough to be easily read with wet specs.

after drying out in soft mud it takes about a mile of sailing(less if rough)to wash out the mud and get the log working.

I dont even know if it can be calibrated as it has been accurate on the odd occasion I have checked it.

The brightness of the red backlighting can be adjusted or switched off.
 
I have a log and a depth Clipper. The depth one has its moments (occasionally just flashes up seemingly completely random figures that fluctuate wildly) but these attacks are very rare (once a season maybe) and only last a few seconds. In all other respects they have performed admirably and I'd recommend them to anyone.
 
I have the NASA Target range of instruments and on the whole they are good value for money. If the Clipper range is as good, then I would recommend them, but with the following warnings:

1) I beleive the Clipper range uses the same mast-head wind unit as I have on the Target range. The rotating cups on mine have falen off twice in 5 years and this unit is not easy/cheep to repair, but the biggest frustration is that the masthead unit cannot be unplugged from the wiring at the masthead, either for repair or to reduce the likelyhood of damage diring winter storage of the mast.

2) the log paddlewheel is always getting fouled. I have no way of telling whether this is worse than other makes, but it is certainly worse than the old Seafarer log paddlewheel I had on my previous boat.

Hope this helps.
 
The wind mast head unit from the Target and Clipper ranges appears be the same.

On my previous boat I had one of these wind instruments, and yes, one of my cups blew off as well. This happened just outside the first year of ownership and Nasa would not replace it under warranty, claiming that the wind must have been blowing too hard. Of course this attitude influenced my purchase decision when buying instruments for my subsequent boat. So far Cetrek have a completely different attitude. More expensive, but you get what you pay for.

When my next boat arrives, guess who will and who won't be in the running when it comes to instrument choice.
 
I have had NASA on both my last and my prsent boats - all worked perfectly, and I have no hesitation in recommeding them.

The fouling reported by some correspondents will happen anyway if the boat is left idle its mooring for any length of time. Rubbish and weed fouling under way has happenend twice in 3 seasons, unlike the Sumlog electronic I once had which fouled almost every trip!
 
Thanks to all who responded to my request regarding the quality of Nasa Clipper instruments. Looks as the are fairly OK, maybe except for the mast head wind unit that is prone to failure in strong winds.
Regarding the paddle wheel: I thought the whole unit could be retracted into the boat for cleaning and the hole sealed off with a rubber plug? My old Stowe log has this feature and I took for granted that a modern unit has this feature.
Isn't this possible with the Clipper unit? Seaweed is however a very minor problem in norwegian waters.

Thanks again.
Olav Saastad
 
Olva

Don't worry about the wind masthead unit. My NASA masthead unit got smashed while the mast was in transit about 6 mounths ago. NASA fixed/replaced both the vane and cups within 7 days (including postal delivery time) for £15GBP. The customer service was very good and hassle free. I would certainly recommend the company from my experience.

Regards

Wayne
 
The unit comes with a cap that enables you to withdraw the wheel.
The only problem I have experienced with the unit is fouling by weeds and other junk.
I have found that spraying unit with WD40 help to reduce the build up.
Hope this is of some help
Cheers
Neil
 
You have to supply your own rubber plug! The NASA log comes with a screw-on cap to prevent water coming in when you withdraw the log; the snag with this is that the cap does not have an eye on it and because of this you cannot tether the cap with a bit of cord. One can visualise the cap being dropped and lost in ther bilges whilst a spout of water enters the boat. So a rubber plug is a good idea.
 
I have a Clipper log and depth sounder and no trouble in over four seasons except if left in bright sunlight the figures dissapear. I have fitted a window in my cabin bulkhead and mounted my instruments on an opening door on the inside so that I can see them through the window. When at the chart table I open the window which gives me access or if the sun is getting bit bright I leave the door open and the instruments are then it the shade. This arrangement means the instruments are never exposed to the weather.
 
Actually I've had no end of trouble with my NASA log which I think is down to noisy supply when the motor is running. Sail along at x knots, start engine (still in neutral) and the reading on the log is suddenly x+5 knots. All sorts of filters in the supply makes no difference so I've now capitulated and (ironically) just bought a second hand towed STOWE !!

Good luck, and keep the supplies electrically clean.

David
 
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